Dustpan and brush combination



May 14, 1968 F. L. PARSISSON 3,332,523

DUSTPAN AND BRUSH COMBINATION Filed Sept. 23, 1966 INVENTOR Franc/5 Leroy/5725155011 BY 77.041

mm"? f United States Patent 3,382,523 DUSTPAN AND BRUSH COMBINATION Francis Leroy Parsisson, Florence, Mass., assignor to Vistron Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Sept. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 581,630 2 Claims. (Cl. 15257.2)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dustpan and brush combination, each having an elongated handle of generally channel-shaped cross sectional configuration. The handles of the brush and dustpan fit together to form a tubular handle, and when so fitted the brush is disposed in the debris receiving chamber of the dustpan. The handles of the brush and dustpan are approximately equal in length and each has an opening registered with the opening of the other for the purpose of hanging up the combination together, or the elements separately.

Background This invention relates to household cleaning utensils, in particular, it relates to a unique dustpan and brush combination.

Heretofore, dustpans and the brushes or brooms with which they were used were generally separate and unrelated items in that they were more apt to be stored indi-vidually, thus resulting in situations which gave rise to time being wasted trying to locate either the broom or dustpan to accomplish a clean-up job.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a new dustpan and brush combination constructed to readily fit together for storage so that the combination can be hung up or otherwise conveniently stored as a unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dustpan and brush combination that is light, sturdy and appealing to the eye.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dustpan and brush combination that may be inexpensively manufactured from high impact strength plastic materials.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dustpan and brush combination that may be employed without the necessity of excessive bending, squatting or kneelmg.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following description along with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a dustpan and brush combination embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the pan and brush with sections of the pan broken away;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 6 -6 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the dustpan and brush combination in separated condition.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, it will be seen that the present invention involves a brush or broom 12 and a dustpan 14. As shown, the dustpan 14 has a debris receiving chamber 16 which is defined by a bottom wall 18, an arched top wall 20, two side walls 22 and 24 and a rear wall 26. As depicted, the leading edge of the bottom wall 18 is angularly displaced upwardly into the debris receiving chamber 16.

This displacement forms the dust retaining lip 28 which prevents collected dust and debris from falling out of the chamber 16 during use of the dustpan when placed on a Hat horizontal surface or a floor 17 as seen in FIG. 2.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rear wall 26 is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 18 while the top-wall converges toward said bottom wall and the side walls 22 and 24 converge towards one another. This particular design imparts a funnel-like effect to the debris receiving chamber 16.

An elongated handle 30 extends upwardly from the top wall 20 and with the pan resting on its bottom wall 18 is offset rearwardly about 2025 from the vertical. As shown, the handle 30 has a channel-shaped cross sectional configuration which is substantially wider at the top than at the bottom portion thereof. The side edges 32 and 34 of said channel are generally in the same plane as the opening into the debris receiving chamber 16. At its lower end the channel-shaped handle opens into and communicates with the interior of the debris receiving chamber 16. Finally, an elongated hole 36 is disposed near the outermost end of the handle 30.

The broom or brush 12 is composed of bristles 38 of either natural or synthetic material embedded in a bristle head or block 40 and an elongated handle 42. The handle 42 which may or may not also be channel-shaped in cross sectional configuration generally corresponds in length and width configurations to the handle 30 of the dustpan 1'4 and is dimensioned to removably fit the dustpan handle 30. An elongated hole 44 is also disposed near the outermost end of the handle 42.

As mentioned above, the brush handle 42 is dimensioned to removably fit the dustpan handle 30. In order to insure a snug fit, the overall width of the dustpan handle 30 at any particular point is necessarily greater than that of the brush handle 42 at the corresponding point, and the overall outside width of the brush handle 42 is but slightly greater than the inside width of the dustpan handle 30 as defined by the walls of the channel. This being the case, the brush handle 42 may be placed in the dustpan handle 30. When so placed, the walls of the dustpan handle 30 are flexed outwardly, while the walls of the brush handle are flexed inwardly, thus snapping the brush handle 42 securely in place. It will be further noticed in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 that the depth of the channel of the dustpan handle 30 is suflicient to receive the major portion of the channel walls of the brush handle 42. This arrangement when assembled provides a composite unit that may be easily grasped and carried about.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the brush 12 when snapped into place in the dustpan handle 30 is positioned so that the bristles 38 are disposed in a position above the bottom wall 18, i.e. suspended in the opening of the debris receiving chamber 16. By having the corresponding wide portions of the dustpan handle 30 and the brush handle 42 at their respective upper portions, the bristle block 40 and bristles 38 are suspended in the opening to the debris receiving chamber 16 and the brush 12 is restrained from sliding downward. This particular design prevents injury by bending to the bristles 38. It should also be noted that when the brush 12 and the dustpan 14 are in the joined position, the elongated holes 44 and 36 of the brush handle 42 and the dustpan handle 30 respectively are in registration with each other, thus providing means by which the composite unit may be hung against a wall or other vertical surface on a nail or book.

While the brush and dustpan may be made of any suitable material, and produced by a number of methods,

their particular design lends itself to the use of plastics Patented May 14, 1968 it This latter quality comes into play in regard to the snap holding action between the two handles'30 and 42.

What is claimed is:

1. A dustpan and brush combination, said dustpan comprising a debris receiving chamber and'an elongated handle having a channel-shaped cross sectional configuration extending upwardly therefrom, said handle at its lower end opening intosaid debris receiving chamber, said brush comprising a bristle block and an elongated, channelshaped handle extending upwardly from said block and approximately equal in length to the handle of the dustpan, said brush handle =being dimensioned to removably fit into said channel-shaped cross sectional dustpan handle and to be held snugly thereby, said channel-shaped handles, when fitted together, forming a tubular handle for said combination and each handle having an opening therethrough for receiving a supporting hook member registered with a similar opening in the other handle, thedepth of the channel forming the handle of said dustpan being not substantially less than the thickness of the bristle block of said brush where-by said block is disposed substantially entirely Within said debris receiving chamber.

2. The dustpan and brush combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dustpan handle and said brush-handle are wider at their top portions than at their bottom portions respectively, so that said brush handle, when being held by said dustpan handle, maintains, said bristle block suspended in the opening to said debris receiving chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 219,875 9/1879 Richmond ,15-257.2 360,643 4/ 1887 Austin 15-2572 2,792,697 5/1957 Gingold 15-105 XR 3,018,502 1/1962 Lossins 15257.2 3,082,455 3/1963 Evancha 15105 FOREIGN PATENTS 365,188 12/ 1962 Switzerland.

CHARLES A, WILLM'UTH, Primary Examiner.

20 R. I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

